MINIPAGE ACTIVITIES MEET MANY STATE AND NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS. THIS WEEK'S STANDARDS: STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT. (SOCIAL STUDIES: POWER, AUTHORITY & amp;

MiniPage activities meet many state and national educational standards. This week's standards: Students understand the purpose of government. (Social Studies: Power, Authority & amp; Governance) Students identify key ideals of the United States' democratic republican form of government. (Social Studies: Civic Ideals and Practice)
Activities:
1. Draw a large circle on a piece of paper. Use the circle to design a special coin that shows something important about your community.
2. Make a collage of military words you find in newspaper headlines. Be sure to include all the different services: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
3. Collect newspaper stories about the U.S. Congress for a week. Make a list of the topics of those stories. What can you say about the interests and activities of the Congress from your list? What topic do you think is most important? Why?
4. Write a paragraph explaining why it is better to have an elected president rather than a king.
5. Find a news story about a law the U.S. Congress is considering. Read any editorials or opinion columns about the proposed law. Use these questions to guide your analysis: What is the law? Why is it being proposed at this time? How much support is there for the law in the Congress and the public? Write a paragraph explaining how the law would affect citizens in our country. Then write a paragraph explaining why you support or oppose the proposed law.